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America is two-time champion of Colombia! He suffered as condemned, endured, resolved with his head what he could not with his legs, speculated and it was more anguish than football and thus lost 2-0 against Santa Fe, but avoided penalties thanks to the 3-0 first leg at Pascual . It was the star of agony!
Santa Fe responded to his motivation and the faith of his fans in the first half, with all the impetus that was expected, but fatigue was sapping his spirit and America’s effort throughout the second half to defend itself with life itself gave its fruits. They were 45 minutes with the guillotine on the penalties, with more fear than ambition but with a huge dose of testosterone to not let the star 15 escape.
The first scare was given after two minutes by the obligation, Santa Fe, who attacked and approached with Giraldo, after a play between Cucchi and Seijas that Marlon Torres deactivated in time. Roldán debuted the red card when he expelled William Zapata from the American bank and the visitor bet to reduce the game to midfield, where he added more legs and more testosterone, to cut the attack circuits of the premises.
And it was enough so that in a long pass, at 14 minutes, Santiago Moreno appeared to surprise, with such bad luck that Torijano arrived just to point and deflect the shot.
But Cuchi woke up his team by opening spaces between the centrals but neither Giraldo nor Sambueza managed to define at 25, until the cardinal’s insistence found a prize before the break: Seijas put the ball into the area on the corner kick, Cuchi opened space in the melee with Ortiz and Palacios took advantage of their rebound to define scissors against Graterol.
Santa Fe went over and the scarlet rear, who had not failed, made a flan, fell asleep and took advantage of Sambueza to take the ball from the left at 48 minutes and define crossed before the goalkeeper for 2-0. Ortiz was on the ground and the visitors were protesting for fair play, but the ball was already inside and America’s enormous advantage now, at halftime, was only one goal.
Ureña replaced the injured Ortiz and Sánchez was the one sacrificed for Quiñones to arrive, change to adjust Cruz Real’s brand, while Santa Fe, how could it be otherwise, bet on the eleven that were about to consolidate the comeback.
Cabrera was trying in the corner kick and Castellanos saved but a lost Vergara wasted what should be a more serious shot for the discount, when the 52nd minute was played. And at 58, at best, basically the only scarlet option of all The game, Adrián Ramos was free in front of the goal and out of sheer emotion he hit him so hard that the ball crashed on the crossbar- Incredible what he was forgiving!
And the local was struggling at 65 for the third goal, with Arboleda taking the pass from Pérez, but he lacked luck in the definition. And Ramos would have one more option, a head butt down that Castellanos resolved well, while in the next action the beautiful shot that must have been the long-awaited discount crashed into the post again.
At that point, the American bet seemed half suicidal, speculating with the clock and too much of a refuge, but in the end the changes of Cruz Real adjusted the brand and the endurance was more than anything all that was in the script. The Santa Fe coach helped by taking out Cucchi and Valdés and betting only on Ramos and a Velásquez who made no difference.
For the closing, the American coach parked the bus, bet on five defenders to defend the advantage and took Vergara out, without knowing if there would be penalties or not. Winning bet, fortunately for him. The 3-0 of the first leg at Pascual ended up being enough but that does not reduce the self-esteem of a Santa Fe who fought with everything he had nor the effort of Cruz Real to defend himself, which is also valid in football . Champion America! Champion of Colombia! Thank you both for a final to match!
